This study investigates the mechanism by which Xintong Granules improve myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI) through the regulation of gut microbiota and their metabolites, specifically short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs). Rats were randomly divided based on body weight into the sham operation group, model group, low-dose Xintong Granules group(1.43 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), medium-dose Xintong Granules group(2.86 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), high-dose Xintong Granules group(5.72 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and metoprolol group(10 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). After 14 days of pre-administration, the MIRI rat model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. The myocardial infarction area was assessed using the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining method. Apoptosis in tissue cells was detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL) assay. Pathological changes in myocardial cells and colonic tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), creatine kinase MB isoenzyme(CK-MB), and cardiac troponin T(cTnT) in rat serum were quantitatively measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kits. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase(CK), and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in myocardial tissue, as well as the level of malondialdehyde(MDA), were determined using colorimetric assays. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing, and fecal SCFAs were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). The results show that Xintong Granules significantly reduced the myocardial infarction area, suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and decreased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), myocardial injury markers(CK-MB, cTnT, LDH, and CK), and oxidative stress marker MDA. Additionally, Xintong Granules significantly improved intestinal inflammation in MIRI rats, regulated gut microbiota composition and diversity, and increased the levels of SCFAs(acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, etc.). In summary, Xintong Granules effectively alleviate MIRI symptoms. This study preliminarily confirms that Xintong Granules exert their inhibitory effects on MIRI by regulating gut microbiota imbalance and increasing SCFA levels.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between the polygenic risks for various psychiatric disorders and clinical and neuropsychological characteristics in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, 285 children with ADHD and 107 healthy controls were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for parents, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition, and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Blood samples were collected for genetic data. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for various psychiatric disorders were calculated using the PRSice-2 software. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy controls, the children with ADHD displayed significantly higher PRSs for ADHD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (P<0.05). In terms of daily-life executive function, ADHD-related PRS was significantly correlated with the working memory factor; panic disorder-related PRS was significantly correlated with the initiation factor; bipolar disorder-related PRS was significantly correlated with the shift factor; schizophrenia-related PRS was significantly correlated with the inhibition, emotional control, initiation, working memory, planning, organization, and monitoring factors (P<0.05). The PRS related to anxiety disorders was negatively correlated with total IQ and processing speed index (P<0.05). The PRS related to obsessive-compulsive disorder was negatively correlated with the processing speed index and positively correlated with the stop-signal reaction time index of the stop-signal task (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS PRSs for various psychiatric disorders are closely correlated with the behavioral and cognitive characteristics in children with ADHD, which provides more insights into the heterogeneity of ADHD.
Humans ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/genetics* ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Multifactorial Inheritance ; Adolescent ; Mental Disorders/etiology* ; Executive Function ; Genetic Risk Score

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective : To investigate the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) gene in the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer. Methods: A total of 1 031 samples were selected, including 506 normal examiners and 525 patients with non-cardia gastric cancer.GPX4rs4807542, rs713041, rs2074451 and rs3746162 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP). Unconditional Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between each SNP with the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer under the four genetic models. Results : The CT+TT genotype of rs713041 reduced the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer compared with the CC genotype(OR=0.699, 95%CI: 0.537-0.910). The GT+TT genotype of rs2074451 reduced the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer compared with the GG genotype(OR=0.681,95%CI: 0.520-0.893). The G-C-G-C haplotype, constructed by the four SNPs ofGPX4, was related to an increased risk of non-cardia gastric cancer(OR=1.262, 95%CI: 1.035-1.539), and G-T-T-C haplotype was related to a decreased risk of non-cardia gastric cancer(OR=0.784, 95%CI: 0.656-0.937). The fourth-order interaction ofGPX4rs4807542, rs713041, rs2074451 and rs3746162 played a synergistic effect in the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer(P<0.05). Conclusion GPX4rs713041 and rs2074451 are related to non-cardia gastric cancer susceptibility. The G-C-G-C haplotype composed ofGPX4rs4807542, rs713041, rs2074451 and rs3746162 is a risk factor for non-cardia gastric cancer, while the G-T-T-C haplotype is a protective factor. The interaction betweenGPX4rs4807542, rs713041, rs2074451 and rs3746162 is closely connected with the occurrence of non-cardia gastric cancer.

Objective To explore the association between mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1(MST1)gene poly-morphism and haplotype and the risk of colorectal cancer,rectal cancer,and colon cancer in the Han population in Baotou area by case-control association study.Methods A total of 390 patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed by pathology and 413 normal physical examination population were collected,and 2 ml of peripheral blood was taken for subsequent gene genotyping.Single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of MST1 gene were screened according to the genetic polymorphism data of Chinese Han population provided by the National Center for Biotechnology In-formation-Haplotype Mapping database.Gene genotyping was performed by Taqman method.Logistic regression was used to calculate the association between each SNP and the risk of colorectal cancer,colon cancer,and rectal cancer under codominant,dominant,overdominant,and recessive genetic models.Results Four SNPs of MST1 gene were screened,namely rs8000,rs2234197,rs2267853,and rs6073629.Among them,SNP rs2234197 was associated with the risk of rectal cancer.Compared with the GG+AA genotype,the AG genotype could reduce the risk of rectal cancer,OR[95%confidence interval(CI)]=0.657(0.442-0.976).SNP rs8000 was associated with the risk of colon cancer.Compared with the TT+GT genotype,the GG genotype could reduce the risk of colon cancer[OR(95%CI)=0.425(0.182-0.992)].Conclusion MST1 gene SNP rs2234197 AG genotype and SNP rs8000 GG genotype may be protective factors for rectal cancer and colon cancer,respectively.

Objective To investigate the associations of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2304733 in TEA domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1) , rs7135838 and rs1990330 in TEA domain transcription factor 4 (TEAD4) genes with the risk of non-cardia gastric carcinogenesis.Methods Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect specific antibodies against Helicobacter pylori(Hp) in serum samples of the normal con-trol group.470 normal controls were divided into Hp infection negative group (n=223) and positive group (n=247) based on antibody titers.In the 450 non-cardia gastric cancer cases and 470 controls, polymerase chain reac-tion-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to genotype the each SNP locus.The uncon-ditional Logistic regression method was used to evaluate the associations between each SNP locus and the risk of non-cardia gastric carcinogenesis.Results The SNPs of TEAD1 and TEAD4 were not associated with Hp infec-tion.TEAD1 rs2304733 was associated with the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer.Compared with the carriers of TT genotype, the carries of CT and CC genotypes had an increased risk of non-cardia gastric cancer (CT vs TT:OR=2.321 , 95％CI:1.690-3.188;CC vs TT:OR=5.140 , 95％CI:1.080-24.463) .TEAD4 rs1990330 was as-sociated with the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer.Compared with the carriers of GG genotype, those with GT geno-type had an increased risk of non-cardia gastric cancer (OR = 2.405 , 95％ CI: 1.480 - 3.908) .TEAD4 rs7135838 was not associated with the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer.TEAD1 rs2304733, TEAD4 rs7135838 and rs1990330 had interaction effects on the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer (P<0.05).Conclusion In Baotou Han population, TEAD1 rs2304733 and TEAD4 rs1990330 do not play a major role in Hp infection, but may play a role in the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer.TEAD4 rs7135838 may not play a major role in the risk of Hp infec-tion and non-cardia gastric cancer.TEAD1 rs2304733 and TEAD4 rs1990330 have the strongest synergistic effect on the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer, which is the best interaction model.

italic>Salvia apiana Jepson, commonly known as white sage, is a perennial sub-shrub of the Salvia genus in the Lamiaceae family with a long medicinal history. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of S. apiana was sequenced using PacBio HiFi third-generation sequencing technology. The physical map of the genome was constructed, and the sequence structure features, codon preference, and repetitive sequences were analyzed. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the chloroplast genome and phylogenetic evolution with closely related species within the same genus was conducted. The chloroplast genome of S. apiana was found to have a length of 151 701 bp (GenBank accession number: OR389048), with a typical quadripartite structure and a GC content of 38.06%. A total of 132 genes were annotated, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Among them, 17 genes contained introns, and 18 genes were present in duplicate copies. Codon preference analysis revealed a preference for codons ending with A or U. Analysis of repetitive structures in the S. apiana chloroplast genome identified 170 simple sequence repeat (SSR) sites and 65 scattered repeat sequences, with the majority of SSR sites composed of A and T. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes of 21 species within the same genus showed that S. apiana is most closely related to Salvia hispanica Ettling. ex Willk. & Lange, Salvia leucantha Cav., and Salvia tiliifolia Vahl. Comparative analysis of the chloroplast genomes revealed slight contraction and expansion of the inverted repeat (IR) boundaries in S. apiana, as well as multiple highly variable regions in the chloroplast genome sequence. This study establishes a method for de novo assembling the chloroplast genome of S. apiana using third-generation sequencing data and provides a comprehensive analysis of its chloroplast genome, which can serve as a theoretical basis for studies on chloroplast genetic engineering, genetic diversity analysis, molecular breeding, and species identification.

Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Bacterial Infections/drug therapy* ; Immunity, Innate

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of aristolochic acid (AA)-associated cancer in patients with AA nephropathy (AAN). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with AAN at Peking University First Hospital from January 1997 to December 2014. Long-term surveillance and follow-up data were analyzed to investigate the influence of different factors on the prevalence of cancer. The primary endpoint was the incidence of liver cancer, and the secondary endpoint was the incidence of urinary cancer during 1 year after taking AA-containing medication to 2014. RESULTS: A total of 337 patients diagnosed with AAN were included in this study. From the initiation of taking AA to the termination of follow-up, 39 patients were diagnosed with cancer. No cases of liver cancer were observed throughout the entire follow-up period, with urinary cancer being the predominant type (34/39, 87.17%). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, follow-up period, and diabetes were potential risk factors, however, the dosage of the drug was not significantly associated with urinary cancer. CONCLUSIONS No cases of liver cancer were observed at the end of follow-up. However, a high prevalence of urinary cancer was observed in AAN patients. Establishing a direct causality between AA and HCC is challenging.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Incidence ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Liver Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Kidney Diseases/chemically induced* ; Aristolochic Acids/adverse effects*

Aim To analyze the anti-A549 and HI299 lung ade-nocarcinoma activities via using examples of baicalin, astragalo-side, hesperidin and cisplatin based on real time cellular analysis (RTCA) technology, and to build a new strategy for EC50 e-valuation reflecting the time-dimensional characteristic. Methods Using RTCA Software Pro for data analysis and GraphPad Prism and Origin Pro plotting, the in vitro anti-A549 and H1299 lung adenocarcinoma activities of baicalin, astragaloside, hesperidin, and cisplatin were characterized using the endpoint method and time dimension, respectively. Results (X) There were significant differences in EC50 values of A549 and H1299 cells at 24 h and 48 h endpoint methods. (2) The correlation coefficient of the curve fitted with the four-parameter equation was > 0. 9, and the dynamic change of EC50 remained relatively stable (the linear fitting of EC50 at adjacent 4 points I slope 1^1) used to calculate the EC50 value within this time dimension. The EC50 of baicalin, astragaloside, hesperidin and cisplatin on A549 cells was 52. 97 ±1.75 плпо! • L~1(16~48 h) , 62.88 ± 2.91 ijunol • L"1 (32.25 -48 h) , 78.84 ±0.33 плпо1 • L"1 (21.5 -29.75 h), 13.57 ±1.54 плпо1 • L_1(27.5 -48 h), respectively; the EC50 of baicalin, astragaloside, hesperidin and cisplatin on H1299 cells was 43. 71 ± 1. 26 |лто1 • L_1 ( 19. 5 -48 h), 47.23 ±1. 19 |лто1 • L_1(14 -48 h) , 39.45 ±0.24 плпо1 • L"1 (12.75 -46.25 h), 25.97 ±4.76 плпо1 • L"1 (10. 25 -48 h) , respectively. The results showed that the time window for the anti-tumor effect of the test solution/drug was different. Conclusions Based on RTCA technology, it is more accurate and reasonable to select EC50 data that exhibit better fitting, stable changes, and time-dimensional characteristics for the evaluation of anti-tumor activity. In addition, this method of distinguishing different effective time of antitumor drugs can provide a reference for the timing of clinical combination drugs, and this approach will also provide a reference for further related studies.